Saidyokub Kakhramonov hopes UFC gives him second shot: 'I needed to grow up a little bit'

LAS VEGAS – Saidyokub Kakhramonov hopes the UFC is willing to give him one more chance.

With a 2-1 promotional record at the time of his UFC departure, Kakhramonov (11-3) was a surprising release to many. He defeated Trevin Jones and Ronnie Lawrence, and was on his way to a win over UFC-ranked Said Nurmagomedov before a come-from-behind submission U-turned the performance into defeat.

Now with dominant wins for XMMA and Karate Combat, Kakhramonov likes to think he’s back on the UFC radar, particularly due to his maturation outside the cage.

“I just felt like I needed to grow up a little bit, be more mature, and just choose better people around me,” Kakhramonov told MMA Junkie following his win Friday at Karate Combat 43. “That was the issue. I needed better people around me to tell me what’s wrong and what’s right. Right now, I’m at that place where I have the right people around me. It’s a small circle and we’re going to do some great things in 2024.”

The improvements inside the cage have mirrored the personal changes he’s made, according to Kakhramonov. He still feels like he’s one of the best bantamweight fighters in the world, regardless of the banner.

In an effort to become more appealing, Kakhramonov has made it his focus to keep his fights standing, even if it means the approach is a tad more risky.

“I’m going to have to just knock people out,” Kakhramonov said. “The rest is good. I’m going to have to just beat them up standing up. When you’re fighting, I know I can wrestle anybody. To me, it’s like, ‘Why choose 50-50, when I can drown you?’ I know I can do it, so I choose that path just to get the win. But I’m going to have to just kill people.”

Kakhramonov, 28, has struggled to find fights back on the regional scene, likely due to his UFC success. He’s picked up a new job to help pay bills, but says he’s constantly in the gym despite the lack of fighters lining up to fight him.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with the fighters these days,” Kakhramonov said. “Nobody wants to fight. I’m always looking for a fight. We’re always trying to fight and people don’t want to fight. They’re scared. I get it, you know. I fought some tough guys in the UFC. I made them look like nothing. I wouldn’t fight me neither.”

Kakhramonov praised Karate Combat up and down for their event Friday at World Market Center. He defeated Gabriel Stankunas by third-round TKO and cut an emphatic promo on the microphone afterward.

While it’s possible he continues to do one-off for promotions like Karate Combat and XMMA, Kakhramonov admits the UFC is still where he wants to be.

“At the end of the day, I’m an MMA fighter,” Kakhramonov said. “I love to fight. As long as there’s a fight, I’m there. MMA, yeah, that’s my thing. Of course, I’d be lying if I said, ‘No, (I don’t want to return) to UFC.’ It’d be an honor to be back in there again.”